Chatham, Virginia
Chatham is a town in the US state of Virginia. At the 2000 census, 1,338 people lived there. It is in the Danville, Virginia metropolitan statistical area.
Chatham, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Location of Chatham, Virginia | |
| Coordinates: 36°49′32″N 79°23′51″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Pittsylvania |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.0 sq mi (5.3 km2) |
| • Land | 2.0 sq mi (5.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 748 ft (228 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,338 |
| • Density | 654.6/sq mi (252.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 24531 |
| Area code(s) | 434 |
| FIPS code | 51-15000[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498464[2] |
| Website | Official website |
History
Chatham has the oldest continually used building in Pittsylvania County. The building was an 18th-century tavern. It is now a house used by Chatham Hall faculty.
Chatham is the county seat for Pittsylvania County. It became the county seat in 1777.[3] There is a large U.S. Department of Agriculture office to help farmers in the area. There is also a small office of the U.S. Forestry Service. The State of Virginia built a new prison where there used to be a work-release camp. This caused improvements in fire and water services to support the increased population.
There were no battles in Chatham during the American Civil War. On Confederate Memorial Day each year, the Daughters of the Confederacy puts flowers at the statue of a Confederate soldier. There is a walking tour of the downtown historic district. There are several bed and breakfast places on Main Street in historic Greek Revival homes.
Schools
Schools in Chatham include:
- Chatham High School
- Hargrave Military Academy
- Chatham Hall, an all-female boarding high school
Gallery
North Main Street, Chatham, c. 1909
Pittsylvania County courthouse, Chatham
Lower Main Street, Chatham, February 1911
References
- "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- Crane, John (2008-06-10). "Chatham mayor blasts supervisors". Danville Register-Bee. Media General. Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
